The Desire of Ages--11--The Baptism

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon and Brother Richard! Though we are fallen and have a sinful nature, that nature can be crucified with Christ and we can partake of the Holy Spirit by receiving God's promises into our hearts and lives! The Holy Spirit is fully God and fully able to live in our hearts and minds to make us like Jesus in our sphere of influence--an experience that will ever broaden for eternity!

Let us look up to Christ and appreciate the victory His life offers us!

"And the word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,' embraces humanity. God spoke to Jesus as our representative. With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless. 'He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.' Ephesians 1:6. The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us. It tells us of the power of prayer,—how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven. By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory. His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven. The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation. The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased." {The Desire of Ages, page 113, paragraph 1}

All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be seen in our lives as long as we are fully surrendered to Christ and growing in His grace! By beholding His character, we become changed into His holy, lovely image! True obedience comes from the heart He renews by His holy Spirit! Praise God!

[Dorine]

As one with us, He must bear the burden of our guilt and woe. The Sinless One must feel the shame of sin. The peace lover must dwell with strife, the truth must abide with falsehood, purity with vileness. Every sin, every discord, every defiling lust that transgression had brought, was torture to His spirit.    

Alone He must tread the path; alone He must bear the burden. Upon Him who had laid off His glory and accepted the weakness of humanity the redemption of the world must rest. He saw and felt it all, but His purpose remained steadfast. Upon His arm depended the salvation of the fallen race, and He reached out His hand to grasp the hand of Omnipotent Love.

Oh the love of our precious Saviour. He went through it all for you and me. When the soul grasps the significance of His sacrifice sin will be just as hateful to us as it was to Jesus. Just as Jesus overcame by abiding in His Father we too overcome by consistently abiding in Jesus.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Praise God that Jesus is the Lamb of God!! He takes away our sin as we by grace through faith surrender fully to Him!! Then He lives out His perfect life in us and fills us with all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing! His Spirit makes possible true obedience from the heart! ❤️

“None among the hearers, and not even the speaker himself, discerned the import of these words, ‘the Lamb of God.’ Upon Mount Moriah, Abraham had heard the question of his son, ‘My father, ... where is the lamb for a burnt offering?’ The father answered, ‘My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering.’ Genesis 22:7, 8. And in the ram divinely provided in the place of Isaac, Abraham saw a symbol of Him who was to die for the sins of men. The Holy Spirit through Isaiah, taking up the illustration, prophesied of the Saviour, ‘He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter,’ ‘and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all’ (Isaiah 53:7, 6); but the people of Israel had not understood the lesson. Many of them regarded the sacrificial offerings much as the heathen looked upon their sacrifices,—as gifts by which they themselves might propitiate the Deity. God desired to teach them that from His own love comes the gift which reconciles them to Himself.” {The Desire of Ages, page 112, paragraph 5}

Let the love of Christ heal you and save you to the uttermost!!

[Richard Myers]

Amen! He took our sins upon Himself!!

     John had been deeply moved as he saw Jesus bowed as a suppliant, pleading with tears for the approval of the Father. As the glory of God encircled Him, and the voice from heaven was heard, John recognized the token which God had promised. He knew that it was the world's Redeemer whom he had baptized. The Holy Spirit rested upon him, and with outstretched hand pointing to Jesus, he cried, "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world."
     None among the hearers, and not even the speaker himself, discerned the import of these words, "the Lamb of God." Upon Mount Moriah, Abraham had heard the question of his son, "My father, . . . where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" The father answered, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Genesis 22:7, 8. And in the ram divinely provided in the place of Isaac, Abraham saw a symbol of Him who was to die for the sins of men. The Holy Spirit through Isaiah, taking up the illustration, prophesied of the Saviour, "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter," "and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:7, 6); but the people of Israel had not understood the lesson. Many of them regarded the sacrificial offerings much as the heathen looked upon their sacrifices,--as gifts by which they themselves might propitiate the Deity. God desired to teach them that from His own love comes the gift which reconciles them to Himself.
     And the word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," embraces humanity. God spoke to Jesus as our representative. With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless. "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us. It tells us of the power of prayer,--how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven. By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory. His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven. The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation. The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.

Now we better understand those times when the Holy Spirit brings us to our knees, then being too high on our face.

[Beacon]

"The word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," embraces humanity."

"God spoke to Jesus as our representative."

"With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless."

 "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6."

"The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us."

 "It tells us of the power of prayer,--how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven."

"By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory."

" His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven."

"The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation. "

"The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased."

Jesis said it and I believe it and that's good enough for me!!  How about "YOU" ??
==============================
1
The Bible is the Word of God,
  Its message is but one—
Christ and the church, His holy Bride,
  The two becoming one.
    Oh, what a miracle that we could be His Bride!
  Oh, what a miracle! All else we lay aside
That we may now prepare to meet Him in the air
    And ever in our Bridegroom’s love abide.
2
The Father is the mighty God,
  His purpose is but one—
To find a Bride for Christ the Lord
  And give her to His Son.
3
The Son is Jesus Christ the Lord,
  His heart desire’s but one—
To have a loving counterpart,
  A Bride He’s wooed and won.
4
The Spirit is but Christ Himself,
  He is the Lord applied
To generate the men of earth,
  Transform them as His Bride.
5
The living Word is Jesus too,
  God-breathed as life to us,
That we be wholly sanctified,
  A Bride all-glorious.

Priscilla J. Owens -1822-1899
E.S. Lorens1854-1942

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Beacon, I too was impressed with the same!

      From the open heavens a voice was heard saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased...."  Notwithstanding that the sins of a guilty world were laid upon Christ, notwithstanding the humiliation of taking upon Himself our fallen nature, the voice from heaven declared Him to be the Son of the Eternal....
   
     None among the hearers, and not even the speaker himself, discerned the import of these words, "the Lamb of God." Upon Mount Moriah, Abraham had heard the question of his son, "My father, . . . where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" The father answered, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Genesis 22:7, 8. And in the ram divinely provided in the place of Isaac, Abraham saw a symbol of Him who was to die for the sins of men. The Holy Spirit through Isaiah, taking up the illustration, prophesied of the Saviour, "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter," "and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:7, 6); but the people of Israel had not understood the lesson. Many of them regarded the sacrificial offerings much as the heathen looked upon their sacrifices,--as gifts by which they themselves might propitiate the Deity. God desired to teach them that from His own love comes the gift which reconciles them to Himself....  The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us. It tells us of the power of prayer,--how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven. By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory. His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven. The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation. The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.

By the time their Messiah had come, Israel did not understand Jesus had to suffer and die for their sins, else they could not be saved. Their leaders had perverted the gospel message. Many  believed their offering entitled them eternal life. They did not understand Jesus took our "fallen nature" and was made sin that He might suffer in our place that we might be transformed by becoming a partaker of His divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).   Abraham understood the ram represented the Son of God, he felt to a degree the pain that our heavenly Father would feel as He watched His innocent Son suffer. Who is it that does not need the to pray for help to resist temptation, not one. All have sinned and need to receive grace from God that we sin not. This is the light that will fall upon us as we pray for help!

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon and Brother Richard!

Do we realize how much Jesus suffered in becoming a human being and taking our fallen nature upon Him?

“As one with us, He must bear the burden of our guilt and woe. The Sinless One must feel the shame of sin. The peace lover must dwell with strife, the truth must abide with falsehood, purity with vileness. Every sin, every discord, every defiling lust that transgression had brought, was torture to His spirit.” {The Desire of Ages, page 111, paragraph 4}

But the beautiful gift of Jesus to our human family is that He uncomplainingly endured all this anguish and suffering—without ever sinning—which culminated in His death on Calvary as He became “sin for us” (2 Corinthians 5:21). His mind was ever stayed upon His Father’s will. “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Let us allow His infinite love to constrain us to affectionate obedience to all of God’s commandments by the “faith of Jesus” (Revelation 14:12)—living by “every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The result of such complete surrender to Christ is that all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will be revealed in the life! “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).

[Beacon]

" The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us."

"It tells us of the power of prayer,--how the human voice may reach the ear of God."

"There our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven."

"By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory."

"His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven."

"The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation."

"The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased."

Remember there are no long distance charges to contact the Throne of Grace! "Jesus has Paid It All "

===============================
1
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
  That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
  Was blind, but now I see.
2
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
  And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
  The hour I first believed!
3
The Lord hath promised good to me,
  His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
  As long as life endures.
4
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
  Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
  Than when we first begun.

Lyrics:John Newton (1725-1807)
Music:Traditional American melody

[Richard Myers]

Amen dear Brother! Such amazing grace that Christ would bear the sins of the whole world! He did so by taking our fallen nature upon Himself!

     Alone He must tread the path; alone He must bear the burden. Upon Him who had laid off His glory and accepted the weakness of humanity the redemption of the world must rest. He saw and felt it all, but His purpose remained steadfast. Upon His arm depended the salvation of the fallen race, and He reached out His hand to grasp the hand of Omnipotent Love.
     The Saviour's glance seems to penetrate heaven as He pours out His soul in prayer. Well He knows how sin has hardened the hearts of men,  and how difficult it will be for them to discern His mission, and accept the gift of salvation. He pleads with the Father for power to overcome their unbelief, to break the fetters with which Satan has enthralled them, and in their behalf to conquer the destroyer. He asks for the witness that God accepts humanity in the person of His Son.
     Never before have the angels listened to such a prayer. They are eager to bear to their loved Commander a message of assurance and comfort. But no; the Father Himself will answer the petition of His Son. Direct from the throne issue the beams of His glory. The heavens are opened, and upon the Saviour's head descends a dovelike form of purest light,--fit emblem of Him, the meek and lowly One.
     Of the vast throng at the Jordan, few except John discerned the heavenly vision. Yet the solemnity of the divine Presence rested upon the assembly. The people stood silently gazing upon Christ. His form was bathed in the light that ever surrounds the throne of God. His upturned face was glorified as they had never before seen the face of man. From the open heavens a voice was heard saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
     These words of confirmation were given to inspire faith in those who witnessed the scene, and to strengthen the Saviour for His mission. Notwithstanding that the sins of a guilty world were laid upon Christ, notwithstanding the humiliation of taking upon Himself our fallen nature, the voice from heaven declared Him to be the Son of the Eternal. 

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon and Brother Richard!!

Happy Sabbath!!

As we reflect on the deep significance of Christ's baptism, we see that though He would be misunderstood on earth, He knew His mission clearly from the Scriptures, and pressed on in the way of faith to give us the gift of salvation. We can be so thankful that no matter how sinful or imperfect we may be, the Lord holds out to us the offer of eternal life as we surrender the whole heart to Jesus! All of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing will come into the life that is yielded unreservedly to God's will, for God makes it possible for the converted soul to be cleansed from sin and live in harmony with His law of love!

"Upon coming up out of the water, Jesus bowed in prayer on the river bank. A new and important era was opening before Him. He was now, upon a wider stage, entering on the conflict of His life. Though He was the Prince of Peace, His coming must be as the unsheathing of a sword. The kingdom He had come to establish was the opposite of that which the Jews desired. He who was the foundation of the ritual and economy of Israel would be looked upon as its enemy and destroyer. He who had proclaimed the law upon Sinai would be condemned as a transgressor. He who had come to break the power of Satan would be denounced as Beelzebub. No one upon earth had understood Him, and during His ministry He must still walk alone. Throughout His life His mother and His brothers did not comprehend His mission. Even His disciples did not understand Him. He had dwelt in eternal light, as one with God, but His life on earth must be spent in solitude." {The Desire of Ages, page 111, paragraph 3}

Though Jesus walked alone on earth, He trusted the Father's love and chose to believe His mission must be fulfilled in the very way specified by the Scriptures in becoming our sin bearer, dying as our sacrifice, to rise from the grave and offer us His victory over sin and death. As we learn of Him and internalize our mission to give the gospel to the world (Matthew 24:14, Revelation 14:6-12), we find comfort in Jesus' selfless example, as His love constraints us to be willing to go to the ends of the earth in accordance with God's will and plan! Jesus is coming again soon, and He calls all according to our talent and ability to help herald His everlasting gospel, both by the life we live the message we give in harmony with His inspiration!

[Dorine]

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is." 1 John 3:2. Our Redeemer has opened the way so that the most sinful, the most needy, the most oppressed and despised, may find access to the Father. All may have a home in the mansions which Jesus has gone to prepare. "These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; . . . behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Revelation 3:7, 8.

What thrilling news we have to take to the world. They need to hear it before it's too late. Not all will accept but God knows the ones who will and brings us into contact with them. All may have access to the throne of God when they come to Him. The heavenly host is waiting to come to our assistance in the saving of lost souls. We are never alone.

[Beacon]

"The kingdom Jesus had come to establish was the opposite of that which the Jews desired."

"He who was the foundation of the ritual and economy of Israel would be looked upon as its enemy and destroyer." "

"He who had proclaimed the law upon Sinai would be condemned as a transgressor."

"He who had come to break the power of Satan would be denounced as Beelzebub."

"No one upon earth had understood Him, and during His ministry He must still walk alone."

"Throughout His life His mother and His brothers did not comprehend His mission."

"Even His disciples did not understand Him."

"He had dwelt in eternal light, as one with God, but His life on earth must be spent in solitude as one of us"

How Thankful "WE" all should be that Jesus was willing to do that for us so that "WE" can spend eternity with Him. Are "WE" willing to do the same for Jesus??
=================================
1
Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer!
  Sing, ye saints! His wonderful love proclaim!
Hail Him! hail Him! mightiest angels in glory;
  Strength and honor give to His holy name!
Like a shepherd, Jesus will feed His people,
  In His arms He carries them all day long;
O ye saints that live in the light of His presence,
  Praise Him! praise Him! ever in joyful song!
2
Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,
  For our sins He suffered and bled and died;
He, our Rock, our Hope of eternal salvation,
  Hail Him! hail Him! Jesus, the Crucified;
Loving Savior, meekly enduring sorrow,
  Crowned with thorns that cruelly pierced His brow;
Once for us rejected, despised, and forsaken,
  Prince of Glory, ever triumphant now.
3
Praise Him! praise Him! Jesus, our blessed Redeemer,
  Heavenly portals, loud with hosannahs ring!
Jesus, Savior, reigneth for ever and ever;
  Crown Him! crown Him! Prophet and Priest and King!
Death is vanquished! Tell it with joy, ye faithful,
  Where is now thy victory, boasting grave?
Jesus lives! No longer thy portals are cheerless;
  Jesus lives, the mighty and strong to save.

Lyrics:Fanny Jane Crosby (1820-1915)
Music:Chester G. Allen (1838-1878)

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Beacon! Even His mother did not understand He had to suffer and die that we might live.

   None among the hearers, and not even the speaker himself, discerned the import of these words, "the Lamb of God." Upon Mount Moriah, Abraham had heard the question of his son, "My father, . . . where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" The father answered, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Genesis 22:7, 8. And in the ram divinely provided in the place of Isaac, Abraham saw a symbol of Him who was to die for the sins of men. The Holy Spirit through Isaiah, taking up the illustration, prophesied of the Saviour, "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter," "and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:7, 6); but the people of Israel had not understood the lesson. Many of them regarded the sacrificial offerings much as the heathen looked upon their sacrifices,--as gifts by which they themselves might propitiate the Deity. God desired to teach them that from His own love comes the gift which reconciles them to Himself.

[Dorine]

"John was acquainted with the events that had marked the birth of Jesus. He had heard of the visit to Jerusalem in His boyhood, and of what had passed in the school of the rabbis. He knew of His sinless life, and believed Him to be the Messiah; but of this he had no positive assurance. The fact that Jesus had for so many years remained in obscurity, giving no special evidence of His mission, gave occasion for doubt as to whether He could be the Promised One. The Baptist, however, waited in faith, believing that in God's own time all would be made plain. It had been revealed to him that the Messiah would seek baptism at his hands, and that a sign of His divine character should then be given. Thus he would be enabled to present Him to the people."

God does not remove all possibilities for doubt. He has given us ample evidence in warnings, counsel, signs and promises through nature and His word. John could have found reason to doubt who Jesus was but He clung to the evidence God gave. We too need to be very anchored in what we believe never allowing doubt to enter our thoughts.

[Pastor Sean Brizendine]

Amen, Brother Beacon, Brother Richard and Sister Dorine!

When God spoke to Jesus at the Jordan, it was not just for Jesus--it was for us to know our true identity and break free from Satan's lies! When we surrender fully to Jesus who gives us salvation and deliverance from sin's deceptive power, we are free to do the will of God in true obedience accompanied by all of the fruits of the Spirit without one missing! God is faithful!

"And the word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan, 'This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased,' embraces humanity. God spoke to Jesus as our representative. With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless. 'He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.' Ephesians 1:6. The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us. It tells us of the power of prayer,--how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven. By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory. His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven. The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation. The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased." {The Desire of Ages, page 113, paragraph 1}

As we realize it pleases the Lord for us to walk by faith in His word, we can cultivate the faith of Jesus by relying on all that God has said, renouncing every thought that comes against God's word by surrendering to the mind of Christ. Satan has maintained his rebellion by seeking to instill doubt of the word and character of God. Jesus reveals the truth to set us free!

[Beacon]

"God spoke to Jesus as our representative. With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless."

"'He hath made us accepted in the Beloved.' Ephesians 1:6."

"The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us."

"It tells us of the power of prayer,--how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven. By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory."

"His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven."

"The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation."

"The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased."

How much time are "WE" spending in Prayer each day? Jesus by His example showed us the path to Spiritual Victory. Are "WE"  willing to follow His example??

===================================

1
Beneath the cross of Jesus
  I fain would take my stand,
The shadow of a mighty Rock
  Within a weary land;
A home within the wilderness,
  A rest upon the way,
From the burning of the noontide heat,
  And the burden of the day.
2
Oh, safe and happy shelter!
  Oh, refuge tried and sweet!
Oh, trysting place where heaven’s love
  And heaven’s justice meet.
As to the holy patriarch
  That wondrous dream was given,
So is my Savior by the cross
  A ladder up to heaven.
3
There lies beneath its shadow,
  But on the farther side,
The darkness of an awful grave
  That gapes both deep and wide;
And there between us stands the cross,
  Two arms outstretched to save,
Like a watchman set to guard the way
  From that eternal grave.
4
Upon that cross of Jesus
  Mine eye at times can see
The very dying form of One,
  Who suffered there for me;
And from my smitten heart, with tears,
  Two wonders I confess,
The wonders of His glorious love,
  And my own worthlessness.
5
I take, O cross, thy shadow
  For my abiding place;
I ask no other sunshine than
  The sunshine of His face;
Content to let the world go by,
  To know no gain nor loss,
My sinful self my only shame,
  My glory all the cross.

Lyrics:Elizabeth Cecilia Clephane (1830-1869)
Music:Frederick Charles Maker (1844-1927)

[Richard Myers]

Amen Brother Beacon!! We do not half understand the blessing God has offered us. How much does He love us?

 None among the hearers, and not even the speaker himself, discerned the import of these words, "the Lamb of God." Upon Mount Moriah, Abraham had heard the question of his son, "My father, . . . where is the lamb for a burnt offering?" The father answered, "My son, God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering." Genesis 22:7, 8. And in the ram divinely provided in the place of Isaac, Abraham saw a symbol of Him who was to die for the sins of men. The Holy Spirit through Isaiah, taking up the illustration, prophesied of the Saviour, "He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter," "and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity of us all" (Isaiah 53:7, 6); but the people of Israel had not understood the lesson. Many of them regarded the sacrificial offerings much as the heathen looked upon their sacrifices,--as gifts by which they themselves might propitiate the Deity. God desired to teach them that from His own love comes the gift which reconciles them to Himself.

God will provide Himself a lamb for a burnt offering. He stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son, but would not stop His own Son from suffering the sins of the whole world. By His stripes we ought to be healed! It would be well to spend a thoughtful hour a day contemplating the life of Jesus. By beholding His great sacrifice we would know how much He loves us.

[rahab]

Genesis 22:13
And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.

Just a quick comment on the verse:  notice that the ram was caught by the horns!  This ensures that the offering was without any damage (spot or wrinkle). 
Jesus is/was the perfect lamb.

[Beacon]

'"The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us."

"It tells us of the power of prayer!"

"How the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven."
 
"By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory."

"His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven."

"The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation."

"The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased."

Jesus is able to save us from sin IF "WE" are willing to let Him be our guide! Is that "OUR" desire?

===============================

1
I’ve wandered far away from God,
  Now I’m coming home;
The paths of sin too long I’ve trod,
  Lord, I’m coming home.
 
Coming home, coming home,
  Nevermore to roam;
Open wide Thine arms of love;
    Lord, I’m coming home.
2
I’ve wasted many precious years,
  Now I’m coming home;
I now repent with bitter tears,
  Lord, I’m coming home.
3
I’m tired of sin and straying, Lord,
  Now I’m coming home;
I’ll trust Thy love, believe Thy word;
  Lord, I’m coming home.
4
My soul is sick, my heart is sore,
  Now I’m coming home;
My strength renew, my hope restore:
  Lord, I’m coming home.
5
My only hope, my only plea,
  Now I’m coming home;
That Jesus died, and died for me;
  Lord, I’m coming home.
6
I need His cleansing blood, I know,
  Now I’m coming home;
O wash me whiter than the snow;
  Lord, I’m coming home.

Lyrics:William James Kirkpatrick (1838-1921)

[Dorine]

And the word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," embraces humanity. God spoke to Jesus as our representative. With all our sins and weaknesses, we are not cast aside as worthless. "He hath made us accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:6. The glory that rested upon Christ is a pledge of the love of God for us. It tells us of the power of prayer,--how the human voice may reach the ear of God, and our petitions find acceptance in the courts of heaven. By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory. His love has encircled man, and reached the highest heaven. The light which fell from the open portals upon the head of our Saviour will fall upon us as we pray for help to resist temptation. The voice which spoke to Jesus says to every believing soul, This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased.

What encouragement for the soul struggling in the battle against temptation. Jesus is our helper, our fortress. He is a place of refuge when temptation confronts us. He will answer our cry for help as He reveals to us the things that need to be surrendered to Him. It is His power, not ours, that changes the heart. How thankful I am for that because He has shown me over and over through out my lifetime that "my way" does not work.